Bring your baby to play and meet others in a supportive, beautiful environment. Each participant should bring in a textile (it could be an old blanket or piece of clothing, and must be in good repair). Together, we will create a large, lentil-filled and hand sewn DREAM SNAKE.
Part artwork, part community-making event, each session will begin with a question or prompt. Together, we will grapple with a few of the big topics motherhood and new babies bring up for us. Through the act of co-creating, active listening, craft and conversation, we will honour and make space for intentionality in ourselves, our families and our wider communities.
This workshop is designed for expecting mums and parents and their babies at Abney Park’s event space at the Abney Park Cemetery Trust, Stoke Newington High St, London N16 0LH. We welcome all babies to play in our beautiful and developmentally appropriate play space.
Drop-ins welcome. Autumn dates TBD. Please contact me for details.
All are welcome (though please contact us and tell us who you are so we can better care for you). Scholarship places and sliding scale available.
DREAM SNAKE ⓒ
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Where is it? This is an in-person group at Abney Park’s event space at the Abney Park Cemetery Trust, Stoke Newington High St, London N16 0LH.
When is it?: Autumn dates TBD
What’s the structure like?: We will sit in a circle with our babies in arms or on the floor. After a slow welcome and check in, we’ll introduce a topic for discussion. With active listening and gentle facilitation, we’ll follow the threads and stay open to where the group takes us.
The creation of the snake is ongoing and you can choose to participate in its creation as much or little as you’d like.
What’s the environment like?: Please expect a beautiful, developmentally appropriate play environment for your baby and a relaxing environment for you.
Floor seating will be provided for the adults. Babies will play on clean linens with simple toys on the floor. Please wear comfortable clothing and let us know if you or your baby have any special needs so that we can accommodate you.
Our goal is to co-create a warm and nurturing environment. We will practice meeting each other with a judgement-free spirit.
Why a snake and what will become of it? Our Dream Snake will be both play object and utilitarian boundary. After its completion, we will create an open-access pattern so groups and individuals might make Dream Snakes of their own.
Our conversations will touch upon the wisdom and various cultural meanings of snakes, many of which are uniquely suitable for new mothers and families to explore, such as feeding, continuity, envy, sexuality, fertility and rebirth.
Can I be late? Can I attend only once or only sometimes? Yes. We know life is unpredictable and want to make this an easy, supportive space to explore, dream and just be. Come as you are.
“But I’ve never even threaded a needle”: That’s okay! You are most welcome. We welcome people who are seasoned crafters and those who simply want to contribute a textile and join in the conversation. Crafting is entirely optional. Please feel free to reach out to discuss your goals and where you’re coming from.
Who should come? Mums, dads, grandparents, aunties, nannies, pregnant folks and babies are all welcome. Those with babies will be invited to feed them, let them nap and/or practice enabling our infants to freely play, move and explore on the floor. Scholarship places are available.
Who are the facilitators?: Dream Snake is co-facilitated by Caroline Reid and Amber Winick, both professionals who support mother-baby dyads. (Caroline is a seasoned IBCLC and NHS lactation support person and Amber is a therapist in-training who co-wrote the 2021 book and ongoing exhibition series, Designing Motherhood).
